Railway signaling- apparatus



1,620,704 March 15 1927' A. L. VENCILL RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed 00%. 7, 1925 R WW] F Z6 fi 2 G A 7 5 6 %9 L i I? l r \Si R 26 2], 17 as 9 mm 263 22 rzy4.

Z2 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. VENCILL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVJIS$VALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OLE PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 7, 1925. Serial No. 60,979.

My invention relates to railway signaling the circuit for this lamp being from the secapparatus, and particularly to apparatus of ondary 12 of a transformer T, through wire the type comprising light signals controlled 20, lamp L primary 26 of a transformer B, 5. by levers in an interlocking machine. wire 21, contact +land wire 22 to the sec- I will describe two forms of signaling apondary 12 of transformer T, The primary paratus embodying my invention, and will 11 of transformer T is constantly supplied then point out the novel features thereof in with alternating current from a source which claims. is not shown in the drawing.

111 the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a. The lever A may be moved to the right 10 diagrammatic view showing one form of sigfrom the position shown in Fig. 1 without naling apparatus embodying my invention. interference by the lock C, because of the in- Figs. 2 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 1 but clined right-hand face of the dog 7 As showing the controlling lever in different shown in Fig. 2, the lever has been shifted positions. Fig. 4: is diagrammatic view showto the right until it occupies its reverse po- 15 ing a modification of the signaling apparatus s tion, wherein the circuit for the stop lamp ho n i Fig, 1 L is open at contact 4i and the circuit Similar reference characters refer to simfor the proceed lamp L is closed at contact 1131 parts 111 each of the cvvg 3W3, the latter Cll'Ctlll] being fIOlll the lllElIlS- Referring first to Fig. 1,the reference charformer secondary 12, through wire 17, lamp 20 acter S designates a railway signal compris- L wire 18, contact 3-3*, wire 19, to Sec ing a proceed lamp L and a stop lamp L ondary 12. hen the lever is in its reverse both of which lamps in the form here shown posltion, the proceed lamp L is lighted and are of the incandescent electric type. Abeam the Stop lamp L is extinguished. of light is projected from the lamp L by The return movement of the lever A to 25 means of an Optical device such as a 1 115 2G ltS 1101111211 pOSltlOIl lS by the 100k whereas a beam of light is projected from C, which permits the lever to be moved only the lamp L by an optical device, such as a to its indication position until this lock is lens 2 Usually the lenses 2 and 2 will be released. In Fig. 3 the lever A is shown in so distinctively colored, so that the beams pro- Its lndlcation position, from which view it j t d f th t lamps ill b di t-i Wlll be seen that lamp L is extinguished and guished by their colors. the circult for lamp L is again closed at con- Thc upply of perating cur-rent, to the tilClZ 4:l: FQI reasons which are well 1111- lamps L and L is controlled by a lever A, derstood m railway signaling practice, it is which is usually one of a plurality of simig p tant th movement of the lever A 35 lar levers comprised in an interlocking ma- 1 9 Its lHCllCfltiOll posltion to its normalpohi Thi l i th f h ghowm sl'tion should be prevented until the stop a bar mounted to slide longitudinally and l l ll LR 15; actually gh n other words, provided with a plurality of contact memll? p e t h t agnet 10 should be enhere 3, 4 and 5 arranged for co-operation re-. lgizcd to release the lock C if and only if spectively with fixed contact members 3 1 lamp L is actually lighted. The magnet 10 and 5 TheleverAis provided with ahandle s I BCl y a relay R having a rotor 6, and also with a lock C comprising a dog 7 nd W0 S ator windings 1 1 and 15. fi d t th lever d a l t h 8 -ati VVlDCllIlg' 14c is connected with the secondary with said dog. The latch 8 may be lifted out 27 Of the ransformer B, so that this windof the path of the dog 7 by a magnet 10 omg is energized if and only if operating curvided with an armature 9 which is attached rent is actually being supplied to the circuit to the latch 8. V for lamp L Winding 15 is connected across The lever A has a normal position, a re the terminals of the lamp L so that this verse position, and an indication position bewinding is supplied with current if and only 50 tween the normal and reverse positions. As if a difference of potential exists across the shown in Fig. 1, the lever is in its normal terminals of lamp L If the filament of position, wherein the stop lamp L is lighted, lamp L becomes short-circnited, there will be substantially no difi erence of potential across the terminals of the lamp and so the winding 15 will not be supplied, with current. 'ilhe relay is so adiirsted and connected that its contact 16 will be closed it and only if current is flowing in the lamp L and the proper operating voltage exists across the terminals of the lamp. "It relay- R is properly energized when the lever A. is in its indication position, magnet 1Q will, be energized by a circuit whic lfp' asses"fioni secondary 12 of transformer '1, through wire 23, contact 16 of relay R, wire 24, magnet 10, contact 5 5= and wire 25 to the transi'ormer secondary 12, lvlagnet lO then raises the latch 8 out of the path of dog 7, so that the lever A may be returned to its normal position. Justbetore the lever reachesits normal position contact 5-43 opens, thereby preventing unnecessary continued energization of the magnet 10. i

Referring now to 4, the apparatus shown herein 'is the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that the relay which controls the releasing magnet 10, and which is here designated RP, is provided with a third stator winding 28, which winding" is connected with the secondary29 of a transformer 13?. The primary 30 of transformer B9 is included in the operating circuit for the proceed lamp L The windings 28 and, ltare so connected asto oppose each other, that is,

they are so connected that if, operating our-V rent is simultaneously supplied to' lamps L and L the windings 28 and 14- will tend to create torques in opposite directions in the rotor 13, andso will prevent contact 16 from closing. It follows that with the structure shown-in Eig; 4, itthe two lamps L and L should accidentally receive operating current simultaneously, the lock will; not be re leased and the lever A cannot be restored from its indication position to its normalpo .3 Although I have herein shown and. described only two forms of, railway signaling apparatus embodying my invention, it is 1.1nderstood;that various changes and modifications may be made therein' within the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit and, scope ofmy invention. Having thus descrihedmy invention, what I, claim is:

1. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means for 'supplying'current to saidlampyand indication means'tor said lamp controlled jointly by the currentjflowing in the lamp anclbythje voltage acrossthe terminals of the lamp.

2. Incombination, 'a signal comprising an electric lamp, means for supplying current to said lamp, indicating means for said lamp, and means tor-operating saidindicating means if and only irf suiiicient current is flowing in the lamp to light the lamp and a sufficient diii'erence of potential exists across the lamp terminals to light, the lamp.

"'3, Incombination, a signal con'i'prising an electric lamp, means for supplying current to said lamp, indicating means, and means for operating"saidindicating means if and only ii suliicient current 'is in the lamp to light the lamp'and thelalnp filament is intact.

'etIIn combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means for supplying current to said lamp, a relay having one winding in series with said lamp and a second winding connected across the terminals of the lane 3, and an indication device controlled by sa d relay. i I

5. In combination, a signal, comprising an incandescent electric lamp, a circuit for said lamp including a source of current, a relay having one winding supplied with current in accordance with the operating" current flowing in said lamp circuit and' a second wind.- ing' supplied with currei' t in accordance with the difference of potential across the terminals' of said, lamp, and an indication device controlled by said'relay.

6. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means for supplying. cui it to said lamp, a relay controlled by the 'current supplied to said, lamp and by the voltageacross the terminals of. the lamp, and an indicating devicecontrollectby said relay. T.' In combination, a'signal comprising an electric lamp, means including an'interliaclring, machine'lever for controlling. the sup; plyof operating currentto .saiddamp, a lock for. limiting the movement o f said lever, and me n c n r l join -ly by lwmi e flewing in a mp nd, by t e oltage se fles the-terminals oi the lamp for releasing said lock. I

8; In combination, a signalcomprising an electric lamp, aninterlocking machine lever having anormalposition and. an indication position in both of which said lamp is lighted and a reverse position in which said lamp is extinguished, a lock forpreventing movement of said lever from indication poill) Hit)

ill)

sition to'normal position,iand means controlled jointly by the current flowing in said lamp andby the voltage across the terminals ofthe lampcfor releasing said'lock.

9, In combination, an interlocking machine lever having normal, reverse and, indication, positions; a signal comprising a stop electric, lamp and a"proceed; electric lamp; means controlled by said lever for supplying operating current to said step lamp when the lever is in the reverse position andin the indication position, andfor supplying operatingcurrent to said proceed lamp whenthe lever is inits reverse position; a lock for preventing Inove nentof said lever from indication'position to its normal position; means controlled jointly by the current flowing in said stop lamp and by the voltage across the terminals of said stop lamp for releasing said lock, and means or preventing release of said look if current is being supplied to said proceed lamp.

10. In combination, an interlocking machine lever having normal, reverse and indication positions; a signal comprising a stop electric lamp and a proceed electric lamp; means controlled by said lever for supplying operating current to said stop lamp when the lever is in the reverse position and in the indication position, and for supplying operating current to said proceed lamp when the lever is in its reverse position; a lock for preventing movement 01'. said lever from its indication position to its normal position; a relay having a first winding supplied with current in accordance with the operating current flowing in the stop lamp, a second winding supplied with current in accordance with the voltage across the terminals of the stop lamp, and a third winding supplied with current in accordance with the operating current flowing in said proceed lamp; and means controlled by said relay for releasing said lock.

11. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means including an interlocking machine lever for controlling the supply of operating current to said lamp, a lock for limiting the movement of said lever, and means for releasing said look if and only if sufiicient current is flowing in said lamp to light the lamp and a sufficient difference of potential exists across the lamp terminals to light the lamp.

12. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means including an inter locking machine lever for controlling the supply of operating current to said lamp, a lock for limiting the movement of said lever, and means for releasing said lock if and only if sufficient currentis flowing in the lamp to light the lamp and the lamp lilament is intact.

13. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means including an interlocking machine lever for controlling the supply 01 operating current to said lamp, a lock for limiting the movement of said lever, a. relay having one winding supplied with current in accordance with the operating current flowing in said lamp and a second winding supplied with current in accordance with the difference of potential across the terminals of said lamp, and means controlled by said relay for releasing said lock.

14. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, means including an interlocking machine lever for controlling the supply of operating current to said lamp, a lock for limiting the movement of said lever, and means controlled in part by the voltage across the terminals of said lamp for releasing said look.

In testimony whereof I attix my signature.

ALBERT L. VENCILL. 

